Chernobyl children to get Island respite

Children suffering the after-effects of the Chernobyl disaster will visit the Island this month for some rest in friendly surroundings.

18 young, underprivileged children from Belarus will stay with local volunteer families for four weeks from Saturday and take in activities across the Isle of Man.

It's been set up by the Manx branch of charity Friends of Chernobyl which has been running the trips since 2000 to allow the kids time away from the contaminated environment to allow their immune systems to detoxify.

A year's supply of vitamins is also given to the children by a local pharmacist to help their health.